Friday, July 11, 2003

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Soldiers from the 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion seized 12 Iraqi artifacts while conducting a raid on a residence of a suspected smuggler here on July 7.

The artifacts consisted of miniature statues, a skull and a clay bowl. A local archeologist determined one of the artifacts to be pre-Samarian, dated 3000 – 3200 BC. According to the archeologist, all of the pieces had been previously at the Baghdad Museum.

The artifacts were found wrapped in towels in a rice bag in the residence along with AK-47s, grenades, several million Iraqi dinar and communications equipment.

Coalition forces also detained two prospective buyers. All individuals are being detained pending further investigation.